Our phones can give us turn-by-turn directions to the highest-rated Ethiopian restaurant in any city on Earth, based on a voice command. Yet to jot down a thought, we all too often send ourselves email. Ubiquitous, simple idea capture and writing spaces aren’t given to us by default, but they’re pretty easy to set up.

The ideal setup involves a tool that you almost always have available, so you can take down your thoughts when you’re standing in line at Shake Shack, or having drinks with your clever friend, or wherever. You should be able to search and index those thoughts and must-do items from any device you’re working with. And there should be almost no friction and delay between your brain and the idea as it gets written—so Microsoft Word and other standard word processors are out.

What works best for you will depend on what kind of gear you have and where you like to work. You might already have a system that works for you, and it might just be a trusty notebook, but you might find a tip here that adds a bit more versatility to your scribblings. Here are the best systems for universal jotting we know of.

Dropbox-based text files

Why Dropbox: Because you already stash your important documents and files in Dropbox, and because plain text files can be edited on pretty much any computer on Earth.

Where you can write: On your computers with Dropbox installed, on the web with apps like TextDrop, on your smartphone with any number of apps (though Epistle for Android and iA Writer for iPhones and iPads come highly recommended.

Works offline?: On computers, or on mobile devices, but only if you’ve opened Dropbox recently.

What can go wrong: Writing on out-of-date files can cause sync conflicts, but Dropbox saves multiple versions and deleted files for 90 days, so you’re generally in the clear.

Apple’s iCloud system

Why iCloud: Because it requires nothing on your part to keep going. When you have a few Notes files going on your iPhone, or a Pages document on your Mac, it automatically saves itself as you edit, and opens the newest version of each file on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone.

Where you can write: Anywhere you can get at your Apple device, which for most people is everywhere, all the time. But there’s no access outside your devices, without some export-and-import moves.

Works offline?: Yes, on Apple devices.

What can go wrong: iCloud is definitive and generally smart about versions and syncing, and smooth all around. But if you want to jot a longer note, you’ll need your Mac, or at least an iPad with keyboard, on hand at most times.

Evernote

Why Evernote: It’s available for every device out there, it has robust tagging and search, and if you want to occasionally attach a picture or your voice notes, go ahead.

Where you can write: On any device with Evernote running, or the web, or through email and SMS. You can also snap a picture of something you’ve written by hand for eventual transcription (with varying results).

Works offline?: Yes, assuming you’ve recently synced.

What can go wrong: Because Evernote is many notes, not just one, and geared toward all kinds of captures, labeling and finding your important notes is on you.

Microsoft OneNote

Why OneNote: Because your office is on the Microsoft platform, or because your note-taking style is truly split between handwriting and typing.

Where you can write: In OneNote on your desktop, in the browser-based web app, on a Windows Phone, or on your iPhone. You can write by hand, too, and either let OneNote translate into written text, or cleverly manipulate your scratchings in chunks.

Works offline?: On the desktop or mobile apps, yes, if you’ve recently synced.

What can go wrong: If your computer is hosed and you’re not good about online backups, you’re in a good bit of trouble.

Google’s cloud (mainly Docs)

Why Google: It’s reliable, available on any device that has a browser, and you’re logged in whenever you’re logged into Gmail.

Where you can write: Anywhere you’ve got an Internet connection, really, but the full web version is definitely superior to its mobile counterparts.